The Italian Alps, in their highest belt, cradle a constellation of glacial lakes, offspring of the snows and ice that still resist climate change. They are small freshwater marvels, basins in a thousand hues: green, turquoise, emerald, and at times a dark, enigmatic blue that reveals nothing beneath the surface.
No paved road ever touches them: they are a treasure to be discovered only on foot, in summer, pushing beyond the usual altitudes we are used to, backpacking with a strong urge to explore the mountains. They are perfect destinations for those who love trekking, yet want their effort to be rewarded with something truly wonderful, providing panoramas that leave a lasting impression on the memory.
Antermoia Lake
Val di Fassa, Catinaccio massif. At the foot of the group’s highest peak, the Catinaccio d’Antermoia, rises the eponymous lake. Elevation: 2,495 meters above sea level, one of the highest lakes in the Dolomites. It is fed by underground springs from the Rio Antermoia, and therefore it retains water even in the warmest months, unlike many other glacial lakes that tend to dry up in summer.
Linked to an ancient Ladin legend, according to which it was born from the tears of a nymph, the splendid Antermoia Lake is reachable only on foot. There are several routes to reach it, starting from various locations in Val di Fassa: Pera, Mazzin, Campitello, Fontanazzo. All converge, after three or four hours of ascent, in the basin that hosts the lake and the nearby Rifugio Antermoia.
The most scenic route climbs from Pera di Fassa. From here you approach the trailhead with two chairlift sections up to Pian dei Pecei. Through the Val di Vajolet, the itinerary touches Rifugio Passo Principe and crosses Passo Antermoia before descending to the lake. It is a splendid hike, without technical difficulties but made demanding by its length, approaching 20 kilometers, and a cumulative ascent of about 1,000 meters.
A Ladin legend tells that the lake was born from the tears of a nymph, Antermoia herself, transformed into water after her beloved called her by name, breaking a spell that forbade it. A somewhat eerie tale as many from these cold lands have, but it’s not hard to believe in a touch of magic when faced with the spectacular sight of this extraordinary lake.
Val Viola Lakes
Between Bormio and Livigno, in Alta Valtellina, lies the Val Viola, a sun-drenched mountain valley whose brightness makes it particularly enjoyable to traverse at the start and end of the season, as well as in mid-summer.
Practically at the border with Switzerland sits Lake Val Viola, a beautiful basin of intense colors set in the middle of a green hollow surrounded by rocky summits. An easy hike arrives here starting from Altumeira, just a bit above two thousand meters in altitude, a location whose access is regulated by a summer-season toll. From there the glacial-origin lake is reached in about three kilometers of terrain, at 2267 meters.
A little further on, around Rifugio Viola, there are two other small lakes, whose waters reflect the surrounding peaks, such as Corno Dosdè, standing at 3232 meters. From the refuge you can reach the Pass of Val Viola, at 2460 meters, which marks the border with neighboring Switzerland.
Nivolet Lakes
The Colle del Nivolet is one of Italy’s most celebrated passes: a high-altitude pass above 2600 meters in the heart of the Gran Paradiso National Park, straddling Piedmont and the Aosta Valley.
Climbing from Ceresole Reale along the road which, on summer weekends, is closed to private traffic in favor of a shuttle, you first encounter Serrù Lake and Agnel Lake, two basins of glacial origin that were later expanded by human intervention. They are two scenographic mirrors of water with intense blue hues.
For those who don’t want to reach them by car, a beautiful trail starts at the Chiapili di Sopra bus stop, crosses the Orco torrent, and climbs for four kilometers of steep ascent to Lago Serrù.
Moreover, from the Colle del Nivolet, a roughly three-kilometer uphill trail leads hikers to delve among other small alpine ponds on the plateau, such as Lago Rosset, recognizable by its islet shaped like a hat, and the nearby Lago Leità. The most intrepid can continue to reach the nearby Col Rosset, another two kilometers on. From there the view over the lower little basins is priceless.
Five Lakes Circuit
Near Madonna di Campiglio, in Trentino, there is a famous hiking route, the Five Lakes Circuit. It is a demanding route, nearly 15 kilometers long and about six hours total of walking among the peaks of the Presanella Group.
You start from 2064 meters at Baita Natalia, the destination of a lift that leaves from Madonna di Campiglio. You then take CAI path 232 and venture to five alpine bodies of water: Lago Ritorto, Lago Lambin, Lago Serodoli, Lago Gelato, and Lago Nero. All lie above two thousand meters in elevation.
The Lago Serodoli is perhaps the most scenic of the quintet. On the lake’s southern side rises a small stone bivouac, a resting point for those who want to push farther, perhaps to Serodoli Peak, at 2708 meters, which dominates the entire basin. Nearby, with a rocky ledge between them, opens Lago Gelato, in an alpine setting with jagged ridges and a splendid view of all the nearby summits.
After visiting these two basins, the hike turns back on itself, but the descent continues along another slope to reach the small Nero Lake.
Crespeina Lake
Nestled at 2374 meters, in a rugged, wild rocky basin, rises the Crespeina Lake, a spectacular emerald-silvery mirror within the Puez-Odle Natural Park.
The path to reach this spot begins at Passo Gardena, just beyond 2100 meters. It is marked as number 2, along the Alta Via delle Dolomiti. The climb starts with about 300 meters of vertical gain to reach the Pass Crespeina, a saddle offering a spectacular panorama after a climb as evocative among spires and rock formations. From there the descent to the lake, along a path with many ups and downs, is short.
It then leaves the main trail when the crystal-clear lake comes into view a few dozen meters below: sprawled on the meadows along its banks, one enjoys a panorama of Dolomite summits that is truly sensational, especially toward the nearby Col Turond.
